The time to start giving is now

January 4, 2011

By

JAMES MEROLLA

Help the American Cancer Society

PROVIDENCE, R.I. â The daffodil is the first flower of spring, letting us know that life re-emerges after very harsh treatment through the dead of winter.
Such evident symbolism has been the decades-old landmark of the American Cancer Societyâs Daffodil Days, which recruit volunteers now through March when these flowers spring to life.

In 2010, according to organizers, Rhode Island had 388 Daffodil Day coordinators from various schools, businesses, churches, neighborhoods, corporations and organizations. These 388 coordinators took in 8,100 orders for daffodil day bunches. These bunches raised some $166,000 for the lifesaving mission to help people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against the disease.
Would you like to be one of them?
âIf someone would like to participate in the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days campaign they can do so by either becoming a Daffodil Days campaign coordinator, or by volunteering to help wrap/prepare the daffodils for delivery,â said Samantha Pittman Communications Associate/Camp Hope Manager of the American Cancer Society. âThe Campaign is one of the Societyâs oldest and most beloved fundraising programs. To the Society, the daffodil represents the hope we all share for a future where cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease.â
Pittman shared several stories about how joyous recipients of flower bouquets from an anonymous donor become.
âA woman out of Massachusetts â who was in twice weekly radiation treatment â received a bouquet of daffodils. In her story, she was quoted saying, âI remember exactly where I was sitting when Mary Ann, a member of the oncology team, presented me with the vibrant, blossoming bunch of daffodils. They resembled a little bit of life during the dead of winter.â This woman had received a gift of hope.â
If you choose to participate as an American Cancer Society Daffodil Days coordinator and spread this kind of joy, you will collect flower orders, collect the donations and deliver those flowers to the people who ordered from them.
Daffodil Days empowers everyone from CEOs to school children to make it their business to help save lives by fighting back against cancer and helping to create a world with more birthdays.
For more information, go to www.cancer.org/daffodils or call 1-800-227-2345. There are a number of different options in ordering flowers.